Holiday workload high

DOCTORS in Mackay's emergency department were run off their feet over Christmas - and they are ready for another demanding workload this weekend.

There is little time to rest for the medicos at this time of year, which is notorious for spikes in serious injuries.

Mackay Base Hospital deputy director of emergency Dr Aaron Kennedy said the number of cases at Mackay Base Hospital emergency wing wasn't extraordinary on Christmas Day; however, there was a high number of serious cases.

"Christmas Day itself our overall numbers weren't too bad but a number of them were quite serious traumas, which take up a lot of time and resources," he said.

"There were just under 100 total (cases) in the 24-hour period but four of those were severe traumas. We might only expect one severe trauma in a given 24-hour period so it was quite a jump."

All four of those severe trauma cases were the result of motorcycle crashes.

Dr Kennedy said toy-related injuries also had been prevalent. "There are always a number of the specifically toy-related injuries," he said.

Injuries sustained on trampolines were common as families often got them as Christmas gifts and were first-time users, Dr Kennedy said. However, this weekend the jump in serious injuries is unlikely to be caused by toys such as trampolines.

Dr Kennedy said he expected alcohol-related injuries would keep the department busy over the New Year's Eve break.

"It's a period of people out celebrating, where they are drinking a bit more and their sense of judgement drops off, so they are much more likely to have injuries at this time of year," he said.